Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Guru Bhakthi - Story from life of Adi Shankaracharya



Vaishaka Masa Shukla Panchami (5th day of bright half of Vaishaka month - April 26th, 2012) is an auspicious day marking the Jayanthi of our Jagad Guru Adi Shankaracharya.
On this auspicious day, let us take few minutes to know about one of the four main disciples of Sri Shankaracharya and his beautiful composition on his Guru.

Sri Shankaracharya had four disciples namely Sri Sureshwaracharya, Sri Padmapadacharya, Sri Thotakachaarya and Sri Hasthamalakacharya similar to Lord Dakshinamurthy who had four disciples - Sri Sanaka, Sri Sananda, Sri Sanath Kumara, and Sri Sanatna.

 Sri Bagavathpaadha after successfully completing his bhashyam on the Brahma Sutras by the graces of Sri Parameshrara at Kashi, used to deliver Vyakyanam (discourse) on the Bhasyas, Vedhas, Upanishads and the Advaitham daily to his disciples. Sri Shankaracharya had abundant compassion for his disciples & he would start his Vyakyanam and Paatam (lectures) only after all four of them had come. Among all four of them, Sri Thotakachaarya was a little bit silent and was not out-spoken like the rest of them. However, he had deep devotion towards his Guru. Sri Bagavathpaadha understood this, and he wanted to make the rest of the three disciples understand the fact that, Sri Thotakachaarya's devotion to the Lotus Feet of Guru is much greater than the knowledge of all of them. Surrendering everything at the Lotus feet of the Sadguru and doing bakthy or devotion to the Lotus Feet of the Sadguru itself would present one, with the complete wisdom of Self-Knowledge, which is the essence of all the Vedas. Sri Bagavathpaadha wanted to convey the message that, Guru Padha Seva is superior even to the Seva to the Almighty himself.

One morning, Sri Thotakachaarya was a couple of minutes late and our JagadGuru Bagavathpaadha was waiting for his arrival. The rest of the three disciples were wondering why would Sri Bagavathpaadha wait for someone, who is not as "bright" as them. Sri Bagavathpaadha had blessed Sri Thotakachaarya and Sri Thotakachaarya came walking, singing a hymn with wonderfully rhythmic words. Sri Thotakachaarya’s words were showing his over flowing Guru Bakthi. This hymn was metered with very complex poetic meter called Thotaka meter. The rest of Sri Acharya's disciples, now understood the deep Gnanam (Poorna Gnanam) and Guru Bakthy of Sri Thotakachaarya and they regretted for their ignorance and they all praised Sri Thotakachaarya’s knowledge and his fervent Guru Bakthi. Since then he was called as Sri Thotakachaarya although his deeksha namam was Giri.

Here is the composition made by Thotakacharya

Thotakashtakam:

Vidhithakila Shaasthra Sudha Jhaladhe Mahithopanishadh Kathithartha Nidhe
Hrudhaye Kalaye Vimalam Charnam Bhava Shankara Deshika Me Sharnam

Karuna Varunalaya Paalayamam Bhava Saagara Dhukka Vidhoona Hrudham
Rachayakila Darshana Tathva Vidham Bhava Shankara Deshika Me Sharnam

Bhavatha Janatha Sukitha Bhavitha Nija Bhodha Vichaarana Chaarumathe
Kalayeshwara Jeeva Viveka Vidham Bhava Shanakara Deshika Mey Sharanam

Bhava Eva BhavaaNidhi Me Nitharam Sama Jaayatha Chethasi Kouthukitha
Mama Vaaraya Moha Maha Jaladhim Bhava Shanakara Deshika Mey Sharanam

Sukruthe Dhikruthe Bahudha Bhavatho Bhavitha Sama Darshana Laalasatha
Athi dheenam imam paripaalayamam Bhava Shanakara Deshika Mey Sharanam

Jagadtheem Avithum Kalitha Kruthayo Vicharanthi Mahaamaha Shachalathah
Ahi Mamshuri Vathra Vibhaasi Guro Bhava Shanakara Deshika Mey Sharanam

Guru Pungava Pungava Kethana The Samatha Mayatham Nahi Kopi Sudhee
Sharanaagatha Vatsala Tathvanidhe Bhava Shanakara Deshika Mey Sharanam

Vidhithaa Na Maya Visha Dhaika Kala Nacha Kinchana Kaanchanam Asthi Guro
Drutham Eva Vidhehi Krupaam Sahajaam Bhava Shanakara Deshika Mey Sharanam

Sri Thotakachaarya has enlisted all the divine qualities of Sri Bagavathpaadha
in his 8 verses.

Kathithartha Nidhe (Vaibhavam of Sri Bagavathpaadha's writing commentary to all
the Upanishads, Vedas.., which are like the waves of milky ocean.)
Vimalam Charanam (preaches all of us to bear or to think of
the divine feet of Sri Bagavathpaadha, which he says would give us the knowledge of all
the darshanas and the Vivekam of Jeeva-Eshwara Vidham )
Krupaam Sahajaam (quality of daya or compassion by birth)
Tathvanidhe (sole authority for all the Thathvas or the philosophies)
Sukitha Bhavitha (Many householders are delighted by your grace and renderings)
Chaarumathe (pure consciousness moon)
Karuna Varunalayam (ocean of compassion)
Guru Pungava (JagadGuru or the Guru for all the "local" Gurus, who have been emerging from time to time in various parts of the Universe)
Samathamaya tham Nahi (one who does not have any one equal to His intellect)
Sharanaagatha Vatsala (one who always protects His refugees)
Ahimamsurivatra Vibhaasi Guro (Shines like a sun amidst the group of monks)





This incidence is a proof that Guru always recognize immense devotion and faith rather than the knowledge. It also emphasizes the importance of observing or putting into action in our lives whatever knowledge we possess, otherwise knowledge serves no purpose, but increases our ego.

Listen to this wonderful rendition of Thotakashtakam by M.S. Subbulakshmi amma.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUGg29s0IQs